Impact Corps – Summer

Past Projects

Since its founding in 1993 as Domestic Corps, Impact Corps has placed 386 interns in over 116 nonprofit organizations across the world. Below are descriptions of the most recent Impact Corps projects.

2017 Impact Corps Projects

Ashoka - Washington, DC

Ashoka is the premier international organization directed at social entrepreneurship and everyone becoming a changemaker. It supports leading edge efforts around the world, shifting both practices and attitudes about creating a more inclusive world.

Project:

New Media Innovations

Work directly with the Director of Global Media Partnerships to assess the efficacy of new media innovations.

Interview and develop a methodology to find patterns among the profiles of Ashoka Fellows, who are among the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.

Produce a final report for funders like Facebook, Google, Omidyar, Knight, etc. who are contemplating the role new forms of communication and media play in serving journalism’s civic function of ensuring the health of a functioning democracy.

CBV is a startup that is looking to help youth that are transitioning into adulthood to start their own business in areas that don’t require advanced learning or education. Some initial concepts include a local moving company, painting company, landscaping amongst others. Financial support via grants and partnerships is envisioned.

Projects: Business Planning for Start Up – Assistance is needed in building the business plan and launching the 1st pilot business by end of summer 2017. Expectation is to have the 1st business (jointly owned by 4 youth in collaboration with StarrVista) operating at a functional level by end of September 2017.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - Bentonville, AR

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uses economic incentives to achieve transformational change within four key program areas – climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health. Through its Corporate Partnership Program, EDF works to harness the power of markets to unleash environmental salutations and innovations.

Working alongside EDF staff, Walmart’s corporate sustainability team, Walmart merchants, and Walmart suppliers in different product categories to identify areas of significant potential for product improvement in one or more environmental areas of importance to EDF including food production and processing, chemicals in food and products, greenhouse gas emissions, circular economy, and/or metrics.

Specific tasks will include a mix of the following:

Prepare one or more situation and landscape analyses.

Identify points of leverage and quantify potential improvements found through independent research or in conversation with merchants and suppliers.

Cross map findings against market volumes to determine the most significant areas of potential improvement.

Focus: HOPE is a civil and human rights organization formed in 1968 with the goal of using practical and intelligent action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. To accomplish this goal, Focus: HOPE takes three main approaches – Food, Careers, and Community – providing monthly food packages to more than 43,000 people a month, providing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training for in-demand industries, and implementing a place-based comprehensive community development approach.

Projects:

Finance

Assist the finance department in preparing the FY2018 budgets.

Report directly to the Chief Financial Officer and gain a better understanding of the role that finance can play in a nonprofit setting.

Interact with Human Resources, Development, and Programming staff.

HOPE Village Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools

Freedom Schools are summer and after-school enrichment programs that use social-justice oriented reading and STEM curricula to educate strong, literate, and empowered young people. Focus: HOPE’s program began in 2016 and aims to expand significantly in 2017. Various intern opportunities:

Develop a sustainable funding plan that will enable Freedom Schools to expand and meet the high demand among HOPE Village children and families.

Lead program finance operations, including preparing budget and tracking expenses/revenue

Develop marketing strategy and increase program visibility among various audiences.

HOPE Village Initiative – Business Planning

HVI is a long-term, comprehensive, place-based initiative designed to radically change the odds of success for children, their families and the neighborhoods surrounding Focus: HOPE’s campus. HVI is seeking a business analysis and plan of a possible service provider role using best practices learned from HVI programming and operations, to contract with nonprofits, municipalities, and other entities. Intern responsibilities:

Conduct a feasibility assessment and develop a business plan for the concept.

Global Fairness Initiative promotes a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development for the world’s working poor by advancing fair wages, equal access to markets, and balanced public policy to generate opportunity and end the cycle of poverty.

Projects:

Start Up Planning and Development

Global Fairness Initiative is launching a new entity, Better Brick – Nepal. BBN will strive to create a critical mass of “better” brick kilns, meaning that they are certified as being child, forced, and bonded labor-free and adhere to other decent working conditions. BBN will help promote and accelerate the certification process and this internship will focus on developing BBN – including its legal status as a for-profit, nonprofit, or potentially hybrid — and business models for its financial sustainability.

LegWorks is a for-profit social enterprise that designs, manufactures, and sells high quality prosthetic devices. Products are sold around the world using a tiered pricing structure to increase access in underserved communities. LegWorks’ mission is to ensure all amputees globally can walk with confidence.

Projects:

Series A Raise

To date, LegWorks has raised $1.7M, primarily from government funders, impact investors, and small health funds. LegWorks’ CEO is looking for a right hand who can assist with getting materials ready for raising a Series A in Q3 2017. Learn how for-profit social enterprises raise money to expand by helping one do so. Responsibilities will include:

StarrVista is a Care Management Organization that is focused on assisting Detroit area youth that have been involved in the criminal justice system to reorient their lives and prepare them for adulthood where they can be contributing and beneficial members of society.

Projects:

Start Up Planning and Development

Work collaboratively with selected youth to build and implement the business plan…including implementing the marketing, pricing strategy, how to prepare a quote, assembling the equipment needed, creating the presentation that would be presented to the board of directors, etc… Intern would be intimately involved in every aspect — from fleshing out the idea, building the plan, selling the vision to the board, getting the first customer, and more.

Ann Arbor-based Torrent Consulting was named the 164th Fastest Growing Company in 2016 by INC Magazine. Their growth was spurred on by the desire to Build Something Greater, a third way of business that produces Greater Growth than traditional businesses on Wall Street and Greater Impact than often times resource-constrained non-profits. Torrent Consulting pushes clients to re-think business built around their customer and on a single platform, namely, Salesforce.com. In less than 5 years, Torrent has grown to 75 employees, 300 clients and 5 hub office locations. They are a national thought leader in building businesses on the Cloud.

Projects:

Vision & Strategy for Torrent Social Impact

Work closely with Torrent’s co-Founder and President/Visionary (Phil Brabbs) to determine the methodology and framework to Build Something Greater: An approach to building Social Impact into the business model at Torrent. Specific responsibilities include:

Identify and reach out to leading businesses and individuals in the Social Entrepreneurship and Social Impacting movement.

Develop questionnaire for discovery analysis with social impact investors and social entrepreneurs.

Research and document local and global approaches to solving societal problems through the use of entrepreneurship and high scale value creation. Identify common challenges, opportunities and patterns

Create 10 year vision framework for Torrent Community of Businesses (leaning on model developed by Zingerman’s as a benchmark

Urban Ashes manufactures hand-made furniture and picture frames from salvaged and de-constructed wood, diverting tons of wood from landfills. It also “repurposes” human beings by employing ex-felons and marginalized youth.

Projects:

Financing and Business Development

Urban Ashes is ready to expand into new product lines and sales outlets. Its plan includes hiring 25+ new employees in the next 3-5 years, which would result in diverting 400 tons of wood from landfills. This internship would help Urban Ashes:

2016 Impact Corps Projects

Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA) - Chicago, IL

CCA is a nonprofit management consulting firm serving the City of Chicago through a unique public-private partnership with prominent consulting firms, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. CCA helps the City address its key strategic and operational issues by using a combination of CCA staff, staff on loan from for-profit consulting firms, and guidance from Chicago’s most senior business and civic leaders. CCA’s focus areas include: education, environment and transit, workforce development, public services, and quality of life.

Projects: MBA interns will compete in high-impact projects for the City of Chicago, working side-by-side with CCA experts, private sector consultants, and senior executives in Chicago government. Projects may be focused on economic growth, education, healthcare, or public safety and will be finalized as priorities are set and the best intern fit is determined. www.ccachicago.org

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - Bentonville, AR

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uses economic incentives to achieve transformational change within four key program areas – climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health. Through its Corporate Partnership Program, EDF works to harness the power of markets to unleash environmental salutations and innovations.

Projects: Working alongside EDF staff, Walmart’s corporate sustainability team, Walmart merchants, and Walmart suppliers in different product categories to identify areas of significant potential for product improvement in one or more environmental areas of importance to EDF including food production and processing, chemicals in food and products, natural capital, circular economy, and/or metrics. www.edf.org

2014 Impact Corps Projects

Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA) - Chicago, IL

CCA is a nonprofit management consulting firm serving the City of Chicago through a unique public-private partnership with prominent consulting firms, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. CCA helps the City address its key strategic and operational issues by using a combination of CCA staff, staff on loan from for-profit consulting firms, and guidance from Chicago’s most senior business and civic leaders. CCA’s focus areas include: education, environment and transit, workforce development, public services, and quality of life.

Projects: MBA interns will complete high-impact projects for the City of Chicago, working side-by-side with CCA experts, private sector consultants, and senior executives in Chicago government. Projects may be focused on economic growth, education, healthcare, or public safety and will be finalized as priorities are set and the best intern fit is determined. www.ccachicago.org

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - Bentonville, AR

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uses economic incentives to achieve transformational change within four key program areas – climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health. Through its Corporate Partnership Program, EDF works to harness the power of markets to unleash environmental salutations and innovations.

John Dooley, MBA/MS ’16: John developed recommendations and progressive ideas for Walmart’s next generation greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction commitment, which will enable continued improvement in the sustainability of retail operations. Additionally, John helped source potential producers and suppliers and created a strategy to accelerate Walmart’s transition to alternative fuels powering their fleets.

Dakota Korth, MBA’15: Dakota worked with EDF’s Corporate Partnership team, developing recommendations for collective, high-level goals for members of the Sustainability Consortium (TSC). He analyzed current sustainability goals/programs among membership and evaluated commonalities between key performance indicator (KPI) hotspots, and delivered presentations of this material to TSC members and staff, and to EDF’s corporate partnerships team. www.edf.org

Focus: HOPE- Detroit, MI

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children, and senior citizens; education and training in information technology, manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education; conference facilities; and volunteer and outreach activities.

Kelsea Ballantyne, MBA/MS ’16: Kelsea used design thinking to develop two concepts, placemaking and the development of a makerspace, into one social enterprise pilot for the Workforce Development and Education department of Focus: HOPE. This pilot meets the needs of the community for free or at a low-cost, builds brand awareness around Focus: HOPE and its offerings, and creates experiential workforce learning opportunities.

Kristine Schantz,MBA/MS ’16: Kristine’s internship focused on supporting the FOCUS: HOPE Workforce Development and Education department advance its pursuit of excellence, examining two dimensions: employee engagement and benchmarking workforce best practices. She collaboratively designed and implemented an employee survey, and developed a concept for an employee engagement meeting which she implemented, with 96% reporting a desire for future similar events. www.focushope.edu

REDF - San Francisco or Los Angeles, CA

REDF (also known as The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund) is a San Francisco-based venture philanthropy organization that creates jobs and employment opportunities for people facing the greatest barriers to work. REDF provides equity-like grants and business assistance to a portfolio of nonprofits in California to start and expand social enterprises — nonprofit-operated businesses selling goods and services demanded by the marketplace while intentionally employing young people and adults who would otherwise face bleak prospects of ever getting a job.

Note: this is a special route for Ross MBAs to apply to the Farber Intern program. If selected, you will be a part of the 6-8 member Farber Intern cohort for next summer. Therefore, you should not apply directly to Farber separately from your Impact Corps application.

Project: An MBA intern, depending on background/interests and REDF’s priorities, may assess market size and potential business opportunities; analyze profitability drivers; create an operations plan or dashboard; or develop sales and marketing plans for a social enterprise. Alternatively, the intern may assist REDF with strategic plan development or research on topics including outcomes measurement, knowledge sharing, and leadership development. www.redf.org

TEAM Schools - Newark, NJ

TEAM runs high-performing KIPP schools in the Newark, New Jersey region that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college, in order to change the world. KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. TEAM Schools operates one high school, two middle schools, and two elementary schools, with projections to open one additional school per year over the foreseeable future.

Kaitlin Paulson, MBA/MS ’16: At KIPP’s TEAM Schools, Kaitlin created valuable tools to provide access to financial information and enable timely and strategic decision-making, including a comprehensive financial model and leadership dashboard. Kaitlin’s deliverables will support TEAM’s successful growth as it scales rapidly across New Jersey. She also provided key recommendations for TEAM’s future data management as part of its scaling strategy. www.teamschools.org

2013 Impact Corps Projects

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - Bentonville, AK

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uses economic incentives to achieve transformational change within four key program areas – climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health. Through its Corporate Partnership Program, EDF works to harness the power of markets to unleash environmental salutations and innovations.

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children and senior citizens; education and training in information technology; manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education; conference facilities; and volunteer and outreach activities.

Laura Katsnelson, BBA ’14: Laura worked on developing a strategic business and financial plan for the Center for Advanced Technologies engineering degree program. The program was previously supported by five universities and six industry partners, but has since lost the majority of its federal funding and needs to be revived.

TEAM Schools: A KIPP Network - Newark, NJ

TEAM runs high-performing KIPP schools in the Newark, New Jersey region that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college, in order to change the world. KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. TEAM Schools operates one high school, two middle schools, and two elementary schools, with projections to open one additional school per year over the foreseeable future.

Nick Johnson, MBA/MPP ’15: Nick helped lead the transition for TEAM Schools to an Activity Based Costing model. This included selecting appropriate cost drivers, creating methodology, developing new financial reports, and communicating changes to school principals.

2012 Impact Corps Projects

Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA) - Chicago, IL

CCA is a nonprofit management consulting firm serving the City of Chicago through a unique public-private partnership with prominent consulting firms, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. CCA helps the City address its key strategic and operational issues by using a combination of CCA staff, staff on loan from for-profit consulting firms, and guidance from Chicago’s most senior business and civic leaders. CCA’s focus areas include: education, environment and transit, workforce development, public services and quality of life.

Elizabeth Coston, MBA ’13: Elizabeth partnered with CCA and the Chicago Mayor’s Office in creating a multi-year strategy for the Office of New Americans. She researched and faciliated dialogues with Chicago’s immigrant population to discover best practices in education, human capital, civic engagement, and celebrating diversity; these led to a list of potential initiatives to be considered for implementation by the Mayor.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - Bentonville, AK

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uses economic incentives to achieve transformational change within four key program areas — climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health. Through its Corporate Partnership Program, EDF works to harness the power of markets to unleash environmental salutations and innovations.

Rachel Smeak, MBA/MS ’13: Rachel worked along side EDF and Walmart employees on their goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain. A second project worked directly with a Walmart category merchant and a private brand supplier to transition the palm oil within the product to certified sustainable palm oil.

Anne Cronin, MBA/MS ’14: Anne conducted a gap analysis with EDF on the participation of civil society organizations (NGOs, governments, etc) through The Sustainability Consortium, that included a thorough list of recommendations to maximize the impact of all stakeholders. She also produced a Walmart buyer toolkit for its merchants to best set and implement sustainability goals.

Stephanie Judd, MBA/MS ’13: Stephanie worked with EDF to identify a strategy for engaging corporations’ transportation managers in reducing carbon emissions due to freight, specifically by de-speeding the supply chain. She engaged with transportation managers, logistics providers, and NGO representatives to best understand the space and determine optimal options for EDF.

Focus: HOPE - Detroit, MI

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children and senior citizens; education and training in information technology; manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education; conference facilities; and volunteer and outreach activities.

Miguel Sossa-Mardomingo, MBA/MS ’13 and Joseph Hemingway, BBA ’13: Miguel and Joseph developed a detailed implementation plan for the development of the Urban Learning and Leadership Collaborative. This multifaceted initiative will create a leveraging entity for academic-community partnerships to directly impact community needs through Focus: HOPE.

Institute at the Golden Gate - San Francisco, CA

The Institute at Golden Gate disseminates innovative environmental solutions and drives sustainable change across communities by brokering long-term relationships between nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental groups. Headquartered at the historic Fort Baker at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Institute leverages its expansive network — from the Aspen Institute, World Wildlife Fund to Bank of America — to empower effective solutions to environment opportunities.

Kim Littlefield, Evening MBA: Kim authored a business plan for a regional health-and-parks collective impact effort currently known as Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP): Bay Area. She utilized the collective impact framework to interface with successful park, health, and wellness groups nationwide, in addition to convening potential stakeholders locally for a new governance model.

2011 Impact Corps Projects

Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA) - Chicago, IL

CCA is a nonprofit management consulting firm serving the City of Chicago through a unique public-private partnership with prominent consulting firms, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. CCA helps the City address its key strategic and operational issues by using a combination of CCA staff, staff on loan from for-profit consulting firms, and guidance from Chicago’s most senior business and civic leaders.

Grant D’Arcy, MBA’12: Focused on two main projects: 1) identified collaboration opportunities between the city and county, especially in regards to open data collaboration, and 2) assisted with a county performance management report online and ensured mechanisms for online feedback from public.

Kirby Smith, MBA/MPP ’13: Assisted with determining and prioritizing opportunities to maximize the impact of Community Block Grants (CDBG), and developed a high-level plan to capture these opportunities.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - various national sites

Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Guided by science, EDF creates and implements well-designed markets to bring lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

Raina Rahbar, MBA/MS ’12: Developed the strategic direction for Green Innovators in Business Network’s (GIBN) with recommendations for implementation.

Raphael Meyer, MBA/MS ’13: Determined which segment(s) of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) offer the most promising opportunities for successful energy efficiency investments and analyzed the most effective methods for Environmental Defense Fund’s Corporate Partnership’s Program to engage with MBE’s.

Viktor Passinsky, MBA/MS ’13: Developed a strategic plan to disseminate cooling tower water technology and best practices within AT&T and beyond AT&T.

Rosemary Lapka, MBA/MS ’12: Analyzed the buyer’s role in advancing sustainability at Walmart with actionable recommendations for the future development of buyer engagement projects.

Focus: HOPE - Detroit, MI

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children and senior citizens; education and training in information technology; manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education; conference facilities; and volunteer and outreach activities.

The Institute at Golden Gate disseminates innovative environmental solutions and drives sustainable change across communities by brokering long-term relationships between nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental groups. Headquartered at the historic Fort Baker at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Institute leverages its expansive network — from the Aspen Institute, World Wildlife Fund to Bank of America — to empower effective solutions to environment opportunities.

Ira Shaughnessy, MBA/MS ’13: Developed more conclusive quantitative and qualitative data underscoring the economic profitability and environmental benefits of serving sustainable food in the parks in support of the Food for the Parks initiative.

Henry Ford Learning Institute (HFLI) - Dearborn, MI

The Henry Ford Learning Institute’s mission is to create small schools and hands-on learning programs that leverage a wide range of local resources to create thriving communities where education is everyone’s responsibility.

Brooke Detgen, Evening MBA: Assisted transition of HFA partner schools to HFA affiliated schools by: 1) developed guidelines for compensation and performance review of teachers, and 2) developed a strategic model and recommendations on key operating practices for a HFLI/Ford PAS partnership.

Public Architecture - San Francisco, CA

Public Architecture identifies and solves practical problems of human interaction in the built environment and acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities.

Grant Hughes, MBA/MS ’13: Researched the feasibility and desirability of a product reuse network between nonprofits, 1% firms and manufacturers, and developed a plan to create a pilot and launch the program.

Taproot Foundation - San Francisco, CA

Taproot’s mission is to lead, mobilize and engage professionals in pro bono service that drives social change. Through the Service Grant program, business professionals offer pro bono volunteer services for nonprofit programs in areas such as marketing, IT, and HR. Taproot’s Advisory Services support companies and organizations in designing and developing their own customized, high-impact pro bono programs. Taproot also partners with leading foundations, universities, companies, coalitions and associations to host convenings and run campaigns where they collaborate to design innovative solutions, bringing pro bono service to bear for progress on issues facing our cities and society.

Camila Salamanca, MBA ’12: Created a summary of existing evaluation methodologies and provided recommendations on measurement standards and best practices that Taproot may integrate into their own pro bono projects.

2010 Impact Corps Projects

Chicago Workforce Investment Council (CWIC) - Chicago, IL

The mission of the Chicago Workforce Investment Council is to support the vision of Chicago as a world class city by ensuring the creation of a workforce development system that sustains economic growth and competitiveness by meeting the needs of employers for qualified workers and expanding the employment opportunities for Chicago residents.

Catie Anderson, MBA/MA ’10: Developed a marketing strategy and communications plan that will lay the foundation for CWIC’s internal and external communications.

April LaCroix, MBA/MS’12: Assisted CWIC with its research regarding green jobs development in Chicago. Chicago Green Jobs For All (GJFA) is an initiative of CWIC and the city of Chicago.

Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA) - Chicago, IL

The Civic Consulting Alliance is a not-for-profit consulting firm working to improve government in the City of Chicago and the region. CCA provides general management consulting services (strategic planning, operational improvements, and organizational design) using a combination of CCA staff consultants, client employees, and consultants “on loan” from Chicago’s top private sector corporations and consulting firms.

Michelle Lin, MBA/MS’12: Collaborated with City departments to develop action plans to achieve the Chicago Climate Action Plan’s targets of reducing carbon emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.

Neesha Modi, MBA/MS’12: Lead the Chicago Department of Environment’s development of a Leadership Dashboard to automatically and seamlessly capture actionable, leading department indicators (data metrics) on an ongoing basis.

DC Central Kitchen - Washington, D.C.

Since its inception in 1989, DC Central Kitchen has used the kitchen as a central location to recover unused food, prepare and deliver meals to partner social service agencies, train and employ homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engage volunteers.

Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Guided by science, EDF creates and implements well-designed markets to bring lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

Lisa Ingmarrson, MBA/MS’11: Worked with EDF and Walmart to identify potential ways to drive sustainability in supply chains. Specifically, Lisa ascertained whether geographic information about product supply chains can serve as a proxy for full Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) in the pursuit of identifying environmental hot spots associated with consumer products.

Attia Qureshi, BBA ’11: Identified key information that could be accessible to the business community that would give these businesses information tools that will aid them in becoming more energy efficient.

Chris Zwicke, MBA/MS’12: Evaluated the potential for expanding Climate Corps into China and India and developed a preliminary market entry strategy for a pilot program.

Focus: HOPE - Detroit, MI

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children and senior citizens; education and training in information technology, manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education, conference facilities, and volunteer and outreach activities.

Aaron Hans, BBA ’11 and Elizabeth Wolfe-Brusher, Evening MBA: Created and documented 1) an initial operational plan for the Family Learning Center, based on existing documents and guidelines, best practices and existing Focus: HOPE policies and procedures, and 2) a strategic marketing/outreach plan for engaging the neighboring community and maximizing its access to and usage of the Family Learning Center.

Henry Ford Learning Institute (HFLI) - Dearborn, MI

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, with the mission of using intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice. Their programs include a food program for eligible mothers, children and senior citizens; education and training in information technology, manufacturing and engineering; community arts programs; community and economic development initiatives; a manufacturing operation; children’s day care and education, conference facilities, and volunteer and outreach activities.

Stephanie Charette, MBA’11: Provided targeted assistance on the start-up planning of an elementary charter school. The elementary school will align with the current middle and high school to complete a K-12 model of the HFA: School of Creative Studies.

David Turner, MBA/MPP’12: Developed a business plan for disseminating and supporting the implementation of a Foundations of Innovation course.

Institute at the Golden Gate - San Francisco, CA

The Institute at Golden Gate seeks to create an “Action Tank” to disseminate innovative environmental solutions and drive sustainable change across communities. Headquartered at the historic Fort Baker at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Institute leverages its expansive network – from the Aspen Institute, World Wildlife Fund to Bank of America – to empower effective solutions to environment opportunities.

Adam Grauer, MBA’11 and Sara Mills, MBA/MS’12:Improved the Institute’s capacity to market to shareholders via its website, provide budgetary guidance for FY 2010-11, and conduct research and development presentations to support the launch of the Park Prescriptions and Food for the Parks initiative.

Net Impact - San Francisco, CA

Net Impact’s strategy is to leverage a global network, educate members on how to make a difference, and inspire ideas and action to change the world through business.

Kristen Barnard, MBA’11: Identified the key elements that will ensure content is a compelling part of the Net Impact value proposition, with the objective to determine how to best satisfy needs with limited resources.

Public Architecture- San Francisco, CA

Public Architecture identifies and solves practical problems of human interaction in the built environment and acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities.

Kara Honeycutt, MBA’11: Conducted an analysis of the 2010 recruitment season data for professional and graduate student prospects, with the analysis yielding recommendations for the 2011 recruitment season on how to best work with these markets. Secondary projects included an assessment of the effectiveness of the Recruitment team’s webinar initiative, as well as broader research on methods for assessing the impact of multiple marketing touch points.

TEAM Charter Schools, A KIPP Region - Newark, NJ

The mission of TEAM Charter Schools is to create a network of schools in Newark, New Jersey, that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in the college, in order to change the world.

Kevin Shaw, MBA’11: Developed and documented new operational processes in an online manual and trained newly hired operations specialists on these processes. Collaborated with the Finance Director to create and document new policies, procedures and forms.

The New Teacher Project (TNTP) - Brooklyn, NY

The New Teacher Project partners with educational entities to provide excellent teachers to the students who need them most and advance policies and practices that ensure effective teaching in every classroom.

Audra Gatts, MBA’11: Recommended policies for the development, maintenance and usage of a contingency reserve to meet short term working capital needs, fund program expansion and protect the organization against unforeseen negative financial events.